Humidifier



Jan. 7, 1969 KATzMAN ETAL HUMIDIFIER Filed Feb. l. 1966 l F/G. 4

United States Patent O 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A humidifiercomprising a bowl-shaped container having an integral upper wall. Asubstantially horizontal top is integral with the upper wall, a U-shapedportion integral with the top and forms in conjunction with the top andthe upper wall a wind tunnel space. An inwardly extending horizontalperipheral flange inwardly of the top and below the top is integrallyconnected to the U-shaped portion and defines a main central opening forthe container. A vapor-producing head is adapted to be disposed oneither an adapter plate or on the flange itself. The container also hasa second opening therein above the first opening and extends through thetop.

This invention relates to a vaporizer or humidifier of the type forspraying vapor for treatment of various medical disorders as well as forbenefically increasing the humidity of a room or other enclosure.

In the past various types of vaporizers and humidiers have been producedfor delivering vapor to the atmosphere. One type of vaporizer employedelectrode heating means for heating water in a bowl to form steam. Thistype of vaporizer is disclosed in our pending application, Ser. No.372,349, filed June 3, 1964, now Patent No. 3,319,046, for Electrode andHeating Chamber for Vaporizer.

Another form of vaporizer or humidifier employed the concept ofproviding cold vapor through the use of a vapor producing head havingimpeller means for delivering a very fine spray outwardly at acontrolled speed from a receptacle. The cold vapor type of humidifier isdisclosed in the application, Ser. No. 377,731, filed June 24, 1964, nowPatent No. 3,283,478 for Humidifier, in the names of Lawrence Katzman,Edward Briggin, Edward M. Stolarz and Anthony N. DElia.

It is the concept of the present invention to provide a humidifier thatmay selectively utilize with the same bowl the electrode type Vaporproducing head and the impeller type vapor producing head.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of anadapter used in conjunction with a vaporizer for supporting avapor-producing head in an optimum relative position with respect to thecontainer.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a humidifierin which the container is provided with a main opening for receiving avapor-producing head and a second opening serving to permit influx ofair into the container when employing an electrode type ofvaporproducing head and for permitting the exhaust of a cold vapor whenemploying an impeller type vapor-producing head.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of ahumidifier employing an electrode type of vaporproducing head which hasa built-in night light.

Still further objects and features of the present invention reside inthe provision of a humidifier that is simple to manufacture so as to becapable of fbeing readily mass produced out of various conventional andeasily obtainable material, that is strong and durable and which is safeto operate.

Patented Jan. 7, 1969 ICC These, together with the various ancillaryobjects and features of the present invention, which will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds are attained by thishumidifier, a preferred embodiment of which iS illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a humidifier embodying the impeller typeof vapor-producing head;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating the manner inwhich the impeller type of vapor-producing head is supported on thecontainer;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view with parts in section, showingthe manner in which the vapor-producing head is supported on an adapter,which is seated on the flange of the container;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing in further detail the relativeposition of the electrode type vapor-producing head, the adapter plateand the container;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 4 with parts beingbroken away to show details of construction;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail View taken along the plane ofline 6-6 in FIG. 5; and,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the plane ofline 7-7 in FIG. 6.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral 10 generally designates a humidifier which employs twomain parts, a container 12 and a vapor-produ-cing head 14.

The vapor-producing head 14 includes an impeller similar to the impellerdisclosed in the copending application Ser. No. 377,731, filed June 24,1964, for Humidifier- The bowl 12 is of a novel configuration so as toprovide for a bottom dish-shaped portion 10 integral with the handle 18and an upwardly inwardly sloping upper portion 20, a top 22. Thecontainer 12 further has a substantially U-shaped portion 24 integrallyformed with the top, which terminates in an arcuate inwardly anddownwardly extending portion 26 terminating in a peripheral flange 28which denes a central opening 30 in the container 12. The U-shapedportion and the upper side wall 20 defined therebetween a wind tunnel32. The top 22 is provided with an opening 32 therein in the form of anelongated slot.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the vapor-producing head 14 is designed to sitdirectly on the peripheral flange 28 so that the impeller thereof, notshown, is at an optimum height for most efliciently imparting circularmotion to the water in the container 12 and to thereby permit the coldvapor formed by the impeller to be directed out of the opening 32.

It is the concept of the present invention to provide another importantelement of the invention, an adapter plate, generally indicated 40. Thisadapter plate is provided for permitting the utilization of an electrodetype vaporproducing head 44, which is generally as disclosed in ourco-pending application Ser. No. 372,349. This vapor-producing head has aheating chamber 46 open to flow of fluid from the container 12 so thatthe electrodes 48 connected through the electric cord 50 to a suitablesource of electrical power may heat the fluid in the heating chamber 46and thence direct steam out of the opening 52 in the vapor-producinghead 44. However, the adapter plate 40 serves to permit the utilizationof the vapor-producing head 44 with the container 12 by employing aperipheral flange 54 capable of sitting on the flange 28 and having astepped portion 56 for providing for a flange 58 at a height forallowing the heating chamber 46 to sit within the container 12. Detents60 for properly seating the cap portion 62 of the vapor-producing head44 are provided 3 as a part of the stepped portion. The cap 62 basicallyts on the detents 60 which is raised above the flange 54 and the ange 58serves to sit and space the vapor-producing head 44 in an optimumposition.

One of the features of the vapor-producing head 44 is that the cover 64of the cap 62 is provided with a central opening 66 therein forreceiving a night light generally indicated at 68. The night lightincludes a bulb 70. The bulb 70 has an exterior case 72 of suitableplastic material which completely closes the opening 60 in a Waterproofmanner and a pair of depending metal contacts 74 and 76, which extenddownwardly therefrom. A peripheral flange 78 prevents the bulb 70 frompassing upwardly through the cover plate 64 while the contacts engage apair of plates 80 and 82 secured to the terminals 84 and 86 of theelectrodes 48. In this manner, current passes to the night light 68 whenconnected to a suitable source of electrical power.

What is claimed is:

1. A humidier comprising a container having a bowlshaped lower portion,an upper wall integral with said lower portion, a substantiallyhorizontal top integral with the upper wall, a U-shaped portion integralwith said top and forming in conjunction with said top and upper wall awind tunnel space, an arcuately inwardly and downwardly extendingportion integrally connected directly with said U-shaped portionintermediate said top and the bottom of said U-shaped portion, and aninwardly-extending horizontal peripheral flange inwardly of said top andbelow said top integrally connected to said arcuate portion and defininga main central opening for said container, said container having asecond opening therein above said first opening and extending throughsaid top, a vaporpr0ducing head including first means for convertingliquid water into vapor, said head seating on said flange.

2. A humidier according to claim 1, including an adapter plate of lesserdiameter than said top and disposed on said ilange between said head andsaid flange, said adapter plate including a step and detents forsupporting said head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,802,654 4/ 1931 Katzman 219-2722,030,453 2/ 1936 Kresser 261-91 2,847,734 8/ 1958 Tauben 21--118 X3,020,385 2/ 1962 Conlin et al. 219--272 3,098,926 7/1963 Katzman219-275 3,283,478 11/1966 Katzman et al 261--91 X RONALD R. WEAVER,Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

